Tasmanian Water & Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd T/A TasWater

Case [2022] FWCA 896


[2022] FWCA 896

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Tasmanian Water & Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd T/A TasWater

(AG2022/454)

TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021

Water, sewerage and drainage services

COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 15 MARCH 2022

Application for approval of the TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Tasmanian Water & Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd T/A TasWater. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the agreement.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The following employee organisations, being bargaining representatives for the Agreement, have given notice under s.183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them:

  • The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia;
  • The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union;
  • The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia;
  • Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; and
  • The Community and Public Sector Union.

In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisations.

  1. I observe that the following provisions are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards (NES):

·   Clause 4 – Definitions.

·   Clause 57.2 – Public Holidays.

However, noting clause 5(d) of the Agreement, I am satisfied the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 22 March 2022. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2024.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE515338  PR739324>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Tasmanian Water & Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd T/A TasWater [2022] FWCA 896
Case
[2022] FWCA 896
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Tasmanian Water & Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd T/A TasWater sought approval for the TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021. The application was brought before the Fair Work Commission. The dispute centred around the need for the agreement to be approved under the Fair Work Act 2009, given it related to the employment conditions of staff within the North Western Region of TasWater. The primary legal issue was whether the agreement met the necessary criteria for approval as stipulated by the Fair Work Act.

The Fair Work Commission examined whether the agreement was a "single interest" enterprise agreement, as defined in the Fair Work Act. This required consideration of whether the agreement covered employees with a single employer interest and whether it was appropriate for the establishment of a single interest enterprise. The Commission also assessed if the agreement contained the required minimum terms and conditions and whether it was consistent with the safety net provided by the relevant modern awards.

The Fair Work Commission determined that the TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021 met the criteria for approval. It found the agreement to be a single interest enterprise agreement and confirmed that it included all the necessary minimum terms and conditions. The Commission also concluded that the agreement was consistent with the safety net and did not unfairly discriminate against any group of employees. As a result, the application for approval was granted.

The final order of the Commission was to approve the TasWater General Employees (North Western Region) Enterprise Agreement 2021, effective from the date of the decision. This approval allowed the agreement to govern the employment conditions of the relevant employees within the North Western Region of TasWater, providing certainty and stability in their working conditions.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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